Temperance Town, Cardiff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Temperance Town
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 Temperance Town
Location in Cardiff
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| Country | Wales |
| City | Cardiff |
| Established | 1850s |
Temperance Town was a special neighborhood in Cardiff, Wales. It was built in the late 1850s. People called it Temperance Town because of a unique rule. This area was home to many working families. It was later taken down in the 1930s. Today, the main Cardiff bus station stands where it used to be.
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Why Was It Called Temperance Town?
Temperance Town was built on land that was once part of the River Taff. This means the land was "reclaimed" or made solid from the river. The owner of this land was Colonel Edward Wood. He was a "teetotaller," meaning he chose not to drink alcohol.
Colonel Wood had a very important rule for anyone building on his land. He said that no alcohol could be sold there. This rule gave the whole area its special name: Temperance Town.
Life in Temperance Town
Building in Temperance Town started in the late 1850s. It continued into the early 1860s. The neighborhood grew quickly. By 1879, schools were open for the children. A church called St Dyfrig's was built in 1888.
The main street was named Wood Street, after the land owner. It was a busy place. Many shops and businesses lined the street. There was also a large building called the Temperance Hall. This hall was later changed into the Wood Street Congregational Church.
Why the Town Disappeared
In the early 1900s, Cardiff faced tough times. The city's wealth came from exporting coal, but this business started to slow down. This meant fewer jobs and harder lives for many people. Living conditions in Temperance Town became very difficult. There was often not enough space for everyone.
In 1930, a new train station was built nearby. The railway company worried that the poor conditions in Temperance Town would make their station look bad. They asked the local government, called the Cardiff Corporation, to improve the area.
The Corporation decided to rebuild the area. They did not ask the people living there what they thought. In 1934, they got permission to start the project. The plan included building new public places, like a bus station.
Moving On and New Beginnings
The people living in Temperance Town were moved to better homes. These new homes were in other parts of Cardiff. The old buildings of Temperance Town started to be torn down in late 1937.
World War II caused delays in the rebuilding plans. The new bus station finally opened in 1954. Wood Street was made wider and new offices and shops were built along it. In 1958, a swimming pool called the Wales Empire Pool was built. This pool was used for the British Empire and Commonwealth Games that same year.
